Statement of Intent Thomas Stovold , Nick Collins, Chris Hewison (Partners) and associates (t/a Southern Events) (hereinafter referred to as "the company") recognizes the importance of providing a environment which is safe and healthy for all employees, partygoers, staff of venues, other contractors and any members of the public, both at the company’s own premises and whilst working on site at venues.

The company undertakes to comply with all relevant legal requirements.

This Health & Safety Policy is designed to enable all company employees and others to go about their everyday business in the certain knowledge that they can do so safely and without risks to their health. Safety is achieved when all the risks which we face in the course of our everyday life are properly assessed and managed to a level that is acceptable. Whilst company directors accept their responsibility to create the safe environment that is required, it is only by each and every one of us giving the most careful attention to both the theory and the practice of safety that we will succeed in achieving our objectives.

This Policy confirms our commitment to establishing a positive safety culture throughout all of our activities, and it creates the framework on which the structures for safety can be established at our premises and on site (at gigs). It will be constantly reviewed and updated to ensure that it remains effective.

Responsibility

At venues, the company is expected to take responsibility for implementation of safety matters, and is responsible for ensuring that the company health & safety policy is complied with. All members of staff and all subcontractors are individually responsible for immediately notifying either the service engineer or the managing director of any breaches of the company’s health & safety policy.

Employees, Contractors and Visitors to Company Premises/Venues

It is the intention of the company to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of persons using or coming into contact with company premises or equipment. The company will, so far as is reasonably practicable, provide a safe environment, and ensure that premises, equipment and substances provided are safe and without risk to health.

Employees, contractors, visitors and self-employed persons must:

• Take reasonable care of themselves or others who may be affected by their acts or omissions and co-operate fully with other company employees, other contractors and staff or management of venues at which they work.
• Comply with the company safety policy and associated safety regulations and codes of practice in respect of health and safety matters.
• Report all accidents and dangerous occurrences to the service engineer or managing director.

Electrical Safety

The company has adopted the approved practices and techniques for electrical safety covering the use, testing and repair of electrical equipment in installations and for portable appliances as laid out by the Health & Safety Executive in information sheets SS28/M50 ‘Maintenance of Portable Electrical Equipment’, IND(G)160L ‘Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment’ and HSE492/2 ‘Electrical Safety of Independent Generators and Connected Equipment’. All company electrical equipment is the subject of a current portable appliance test.

It is the responsibility of the service engineer to ensure that only items which have a current test certificate are used. The only exception being when a item is brand new and not more than 12 months old.

If any item of equipment that a DJ or engineer uses looks in any way dubious, is observed to be ‘out of test’ or blows a trip or fuse when connected, then it must not be used and should be reported immediately to the service engineer. Any items considered suspect or unsafe should be marked with a black PVC tape cross over the mains inlet socket and a knot tied in the mains lead.

Safety of Leads (trip hazard)

Leads which cross the floor anywhere that either employees, sub-contractors or the public might walk, including behind the DJ or lighting console, must be gaffered securely down and marked with white or ‘hazard striped’ gaffer to highlight a potential trip hazard.

Speakers & Stands (trip/fall hazard)

Speakers, lighting and their associated tripod stands are potentially dangerous in their ability to trip people up, or topple over. DJs or engineers must ensure that the legs of stands are in the least prominent position and are not protruding into a public area wherever possible. Where the set up arrangement makes it necessary to show a leg, protect this by putting a small table, case, rope & posts, or other protection in front of it and use only newly invested ALP4 100kg Winch Stands which have 4 safety large reinforced legs for stability and are supplied with health and safety certification and full CE markings. Rated total capacity per stand is 100kg MAX and 200kg MAX if 2 are used with trussing. If a Speaker stack MUST be used, it MUST be strapped using ratchet straps in all situations, however it is recommended that bass bins are used with top hats and poles to avoid knocking off of speakers updated on 6/11/2009. People must not be able to get behind the speakers. When used on un-even ground it is recommended that they be stabilized using temporary flooring. It is our policy that stacking is safer than using tripods, but when necessary use tripods as above.

N.B When it is not possible to use the large 100kg winch stands it is permitted to use Powerdrive Stands when only a T-Bar is used. The stand must be out of the publics way and must be at least 3meters from the dance floor, or when this is not possible, it must be marked with brightly colored duck tape or similar and be protected by chairs, table or similar. See Powerdrive notes for guidance.

If any dj considers that the positioning of a tripod stand leg is potentially dangerous, this must be brought to the attention of the duty manager of the venue, or if none, to the client’s attention, and an alternative position agreed before public are given access to the room.

Fire Exits

If instructed by the client or venue management to set up in a position which will interfere in any way with a fire exit or escape route, DJ’s must ensure there is sufficient space to get past in the event of an emergency.

If the client insists that equipment is to be set up in front of a fire exit door or escape route, then the DJ or engineer must assure himself that there are sufficient suitable alternative escape routes, by seeking advice from a qualified person (usually the venue manager or safety officer). If a DJ or engineer is still in any way uncomfortable about the safety implications of where equipment is to be positioned, both the client and venue management must be advised of his concerns and a note taken of the full names of the person(s) who authorized equipment to be set in such a position.

Overhead Equipment

Where items of equipment are to be suspended from either T-bars on tripod stands, caterinary wire or from trussing, such items may only be attached using an accepted proprietary fixing device such a lighting clamp, or approved flying harness. It is advisory that there also be a secondary means of support when a item is to be installed permanently.

Pyrotechnics

The company is not licensed to use pyrotechnics (fireworks, Flutterfetti, streamers, exploding balloons etc.), whether detonated by explosive charged or by compressed gas. DJs, sound or lighting engineers, company employees, or sub-contractors acting on behalf of the company are instructed not to operate pyrotechnic firing equipment nor to assist in any way in the installation of such devices. UFN.

Smoke/Hazer Machines

Smoke and haze machines carry with them the potential to trigger and in certain cases to permanently damage fire protection systems and other sensitive equipment. Such machines may only be used with the express permission of a named and suitably authorized person representing the management of the venue in which the use is to take place.

Foam Machine Use

Where a foam party is required, we use our own tried and tested safety system. We use a bubble Bath fluid that is not regarded as a health or environmental hazard under current legislation. It has a COSHH sheet that is available. This is then passed through a fan air bag to create bubbles for guests to enjoy. Doing it in this way is no different to playing with bubbles in a bath. Foam Safety Personnel must be present to minimize any risk of over crowding during foam creation.

Protection against Noise

It is the nature of our business that we work in a high noise environment. In areas where the equivalent noise level is liable to exceed 85 dB(A) ear protection should be used in the form of foam or individually moulded earplugs (RS 562-261 as a minimum). In practical terms, all DJs and engineers working on stage with monitors should wear earplugs at all times, and if monitors are not in use, earplugs should be worn when the loudspeakers are closer than five metres away.

Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Regulations The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 1988 and 1994 impose duties on employers to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risk to health posed to employees and other persons involved in processes using or producing hazardous substances before such processes are undertaken. The Carcinogens Regulations 1992 take the form of an amendment to the COSHH Regulations and the company maintains records of all substances used either at it’s own premises and on site at venues. Since the company no longer uses pyrotechnics, the main areas affected are paints, adhesives and fluid for smoke machines and hazers.

Inflatable Buildings & Bouncy Castles / Games

All castles and inflatable marquees must be anchored using all anchor points. Units must only be used in weather that is suitable. Seek advice from Manager if unsure. All castles must use safety mats. Sumo Suits must wear headwear. Rodeo Bull riders must sign disclaimer. Units must not exceed maximum capacity.

Lifting of Loads

No load greater than 25kg may be lifted by a single person. With this in mind, our portable equipment is designed such that no item of regularly used equipment weighs more than 25kg. The exceptions to this are our road trunks used for transporting cables etc. to gigs. When fully loaded these may weigh between 15kg and 200kg. Appropriate measures must be taken such as the use of a ‘tail-lift’ vehicle, or alternatively unloading the contents of the trunk before lifting it.

Protective Footwear

It is considered that in view of the nature of our work, the Health and Safety at Work Act does not require the blanket use of protective footwear by employees or contractors working in our workshops or on stage at venues. The main requirement for workshop/stage areas is that adequate footwear is worn. This need not necessarily be purpose-designed protective footwear, merely a good strong pair of shoes or boots as opposed to sandals, trainers etc.